Ahead of the COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, the incoming COP30 President, André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, has issued a firm warning to the international community that the world is approaching a decisive moment in its climate response. He said nations must act with urgency to keep the 1.5°C global warming limit within reach.
In a statement addressed to global leaders, he said COP30 marks a crossroads where countries must choose between continued delay, which risks climate destabilization, or a coordinated shift toward decisive climate action.
A World Near Climate Tipping Points
Citing recent assessments from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Corrêa do Lago noted that rising global temperatures are pushing natural systems towards tipping points that could trigger irreversible and cascading damage.
He explained that these tipping points could undermine food systems, economic stability, environmental health and social structures. According to him, the consequences would extend far beyond more frequent extreme weather, posing risks to national economies and community resilience.
“This is not only about storms, droughts, and floods. It is about the weakening of systems that support life and stability,” he said.
Science Signals Urgency, but Also Hope
The statement referenced the Global Tipping Points Report 2025 presented at the Pre-COP30 meeting in Brasília. The report indicates that the world is currently on track to surpass the 1.5°C threshold but also highlights opportunities to trigger positive system-wide changes that accelerate the shift to low-carbon development.
Corrêa do Lago said renewable energy expansion, digital public infrastructure for climate planning, nature restoration programs, affordable climate finance and community-led adaptation efforts are already demonstrating early momentum in some regions.
He said that coordinated international cooperation can help scale these efforts globally, creating pathways that both reduce emissions and build resilience in communities most vulnerable to climate shocks.
A Turning Point for Global Action
The COP30 President stressed that the success of the summit will depend on countries’ willingness to align policy actions with scientific guidance and to ensure developing nations receive the financial and technological support required to strengthen adaptation capacity.
“We face a moment of truth. We can either continue along a path that leads to greater instability or act together to ensure a more secure and resilient future,” he said.
He urged governments to arrive in Belém prepared to agree on accelerated implementation commitments and long-term cooperation frameworks, emphasizing that the window for preventing further climate destabilization is narrowing, but not yet closed.
